Dangerous goods (also called hazmat) are products that contain hazardous materials — and more products fall into this category than you might expect. Understanding the classification and requirements prevents listing issues, shipping delays, and potential account suspensions.
What Counts as Dangerous Goods
On Amazon, dangerous goods include products containing lithium batteries (phones, tablets, toys, torches), aerosol sprays (deodorant, air fresheners, spray paint), flammable liquids (nail polish remover, hand sanitiser with alcohol), corrosive substances (certain cleaning products), compressed gases, and products with strong magnets.
The list is broader than most sellers expect. A phone case with a built-in battery is a dangerous good. A candle could be classified as flammable. Even some cosmetics and health products contain ingredients that trigger the dangerous goods classification.
How to Check Classification
When listing a product on Amazon, you may be asked to provide dangerous goods information through a questionnaire. Amazon may also flag existing products as potential dangerous goods based on the product description or category.
You can proactively check by reviewing the product's Safety Data Sheet (SDS) — manufacturers are required to provide these for products containing hazardous materials. The SDS details what the product contains and its hazard classification.
Additional Requirements
Listing dangerous goods on Amazon FBA requires additional documentation. You typically need to provide a completed Dangerous Goods questionnaire and may need to upload a Safety Data Sheet or an exemption sheet proving the product does not require one.
Products classified as dangerous goods can only be stored at Amazon fulfilment centres equipped to handle them. This may limit which fulfilment centres accept your shipments and could affect delivery speeds.
Shipping Requirements
Shipping dangerous goods to Amazon's fulfilment centres requires compliance with transportation regulations. This may include specific packaging requirements, hazard labels on shipping boxes, restrictions on the quantity per shipment, and specific carrier requirements (not all carriers handle dangerous goods).
The exact requirements depend on the classification level of your product. Some items are classified as "limited quantities" with lighter requirements, while others are fully regulated and need special handling throughout the supply chain.
Common Dangerous Goods Mistakes
The most common mistake is not realising a product is classified as dangerous goods. Sellers buy stock, try to create a shipping plan, and discover that Amazon flags it as hazmat — delaying the entire shipment while they scramble for documentation.
Another mistake is providing incomplete or incorrect documentation. If Amazon requests an SDS and you provide one that does not match the product or is for the wrong variant, your listing will be suspended until corrected.
Is It Worth Selling Dangerous Goods?
The additional requirements create a barrier that many sellers avoid, which means less competition on those listings. Products like batteries, certain electronics, and health products can be very profitable precisely because fewer sellers are willing to deal with the compliance. If you can navigate the requirements, dangerous goods can be a competitive advantage.
Getting Help
If you are unsure whether your product is classified as dangerous goods, check with the manufacturer for an SDS. Amazon also has a Dangerous Goods team that can assist with classification questions through Seller Support.
At Precision, we handle dangerous goods prep for our clients — we understand the labelling, packaging, and documentation requirements and ensure everything is compliant before shipping to Amazon.